3 days ago
Would you move to a tiny Scottish island to become a teacher? Orkney island's search to fill classroom post - still vacant after SIX YEARS
A remote island primary school has spent more than SIX YEARS trying to fill a teaching post as politicians warn of acute staff shortages in rural Scotland.
The one-day-a-week position at Papa Westray Community School – on one of the smallest islands in Orkney – was first advertised at the end of March 2019 but remains vacant.
The long-running situation has emerged as new information gathered by the Scottish Liberal Democrats shows more than 1,350 teaching posts have had to be readvertised in the past two years.
Papa Westray has a population of less than 100 and is home to the world's shortest scheduled passenger flight, with the record for the 1.7-mile trip to neighbouring Westray being only 53 seconds.
Its tiny community school is supported by staff from Westray Junior High School on Westray but it still hopes to secure a teacher for the one-day post.
Lib Dem education spokesman Willie Rennie said action is needed to 'make teaching an attractive role if we are to tackle these shortfalls'.
He said: 'Qualified teachers are enduring years of short-term, zero hours contracts yet some schools are advertising roles over and over again without any success.
'This data suggests there are acute shortages in rural areas and in key subjects like maths.
'Terrible workforce planning has resulted in missed opportunities for so many young people and so many teachers too.'
Despite the lengthy vacancy, the school has performed well and was praised by education watchdogs last year.
And Orkney Council is not alone in the challenges it has faced filling positions.
Figures obtained by the Lib Dems show 692 teaching positions had to be readvertised across Scotland in 2022-23, with a further 665 posts advertised again in 2023-24.
Mr Rennie said: 'No-one believes education is high up the SNP's agenda. That's why we need a change of government to get Scottish education back to its best.'
A spokesman for local government body Cosla accepted there are 'long-standing recruitment and retention challenges in remote, rural and island areas, and in some secondary school subjects'.
The Scottish Government said it is focused on improving education and supporting teachers.
